How to Build Fan-Powered Canoe

Build a fan-powered canoe by copying the design of an air boat. Air boats are popular in regions such as the Florida Everglades or the bayous of Louisiana. These crafts move through the water using an engine and a large plane propeller. A canoe can be adapted to use the same design, but on a smaller level. Add a lawnmower engine to your canoe to power a fan and glide through the water at a faster pace than rowing.

Things You'll Need

  • Propeller
  • Tape measure
  • Pencils
  • Piece of plywood
  • String
  • Jigsaw
  • Lawnmower engine
  • 1-inch conduit
  • Wire mesh
  • Metal zip ties
  • 2-by-6-inch boards
  • Nuts
  • Bolts
  • Socket wrench
  • Canoe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the length of your propeller. Add two inches to the measurement.

    • 2

      Measure out the dimension from Step 1 onto the plywood. Tie a string to your pencil. Place the pencil in the middle point of the line. Stretch the string until it reaches the end of the line. Tie another pencil to the end of the string. Hold the pencil in the middle stationary and rotate the pencil on the end of the string around in a circle. This will create a circle with the propeller’s length measurement.

    • 3

      Cut the circle out of the plywood with a jigsaw.

    • 4

      Form the 1-inch conduit in a circle using the plywood circle as a pattern. Attach the wire mesh with zip ties to create the fan cage, which will need to encompass the propeller and the motor. You will need to measure them to determine the depth.

    • 5

      Use the width and depth measurements of the lawnmower motor to determine how large of a platform you will need for the motor. Create a pedestal to mount the motor that is 12 inches tall. Build it out of 2-by-6-inch boards.

    • 6

      Set the fan cage over the engine pedestal mount that has been placed in the back of the canoe. Bolt the cage to the mount and the canoe. Use a socket wrench to tighten the nuts on the bolts.

    • 7

      Place the engine on the mount. Position it so the blade shaft is horizontally facing the tail of the canoe. Bolt the engine to the mount.

    • 8

      Slide the propeller onto the blade shaft. Tighten with a nut. Spin the propeller to test that it has enough clearance.